Orange County Coastkeeper and Metropolitan Water District Team Up in the Name of Clean Beaches and Waterways

Orange County Coastkeeper and Metropolitan Water District Team Up in the Name of Clean Beaches and Waterways

Metropolitan Water Districts signs on as Coastal Cleanup Day sponsor

ORANGE COUNTY, September 11, 2015 – On September 19, thousands of volunteers throughout California will head to coastal and inland waters in support of clean beaches and waterways for Coastal Cleanup Day. At the 42-cleanup sites across Orange County, coordinated by Orange County Coastkeeper and sponsored by the Metropolitan Water District, volunteers will collect accumulated trash and debris spanning 91 miles of coastline in an effort to prevent it from reaching the ocean.

“The Metropolitan Water District’s Turn campaign has proven to be a quintessential element of public awareness of water conservation efforts,” says Courtney James, Orange County Coastkeeper’s coastal cleanup director. “We are proud to partner with an organization that shares a similar passion for the community’s involvement in combating water issues.”

Last year, 7,053 Orange County volunteers collected more than 67,000 pounds of trash and recyclable materials during the three-hour event. With increased awareness about the impact of water pollution, Coastkeeper aims to surpass these numbers this year.

Vast amounts of trash litter the world's waters causing harm to oceans, wildlife, coastal economies and beach-goers. Beaches serve as collecting spots for trash that travels from city streets and highways via inland waterways, storm drains, sewers and wind. Beach cleanups stand as a last line of defense to prevent debris from entering the ocean.

Coastkeeper aims to accomplish a zero-waste event and asks that volunteers bring their own cleanup supplies including a bucket or reusable bag, gloves and reusable water bottle.

ORANGE COUNTY COASTKEEPER: Founded in 1999, the mission of Coastkeeper is to protect and promote sustainable water resources that are swimmable, drinkable, and fishable. Coastkeeper is a nonprofit clean water organization that serves as a proactive steward of our fresh- and saltwater ecosystems. We work collaboratively with diverse groups in the public and private sectors to achieve healthy, accessible, and sustainable water resources for the region. We implement innovative, effective programs in education, advocacy, restoration, research, enforcement, and conservation. For more information, visit www.coastkeeper.org or call 714-850-1965.